Abstract
The inductance and read-write characteristics for thin film heads with various magnetostriction constants were investigated. Heads with a combination of positive magnetostriction constants for top yoke and negative magnetostriction constants for bottom yoke exhibited excellent read-write characteristics. Such a result could be explained by the increase of the difference between the inductance at zero bias and magnetized cores, that is, permeability in cores. High permeability was caused by the magnetoelastic effect based on the induced uniaxial stresses of permalloy films. In addition, overwrite characteristics became excellent as values of the bias magnetomotive force obtained from the inductance characteristics increased. It was concluded that the measurement of the inductance characteristics is a very powerful method of evaluating magnetic tips.
